Newcastle United: Cup performance sealed Grant Hanley exit

How one bad evening finally pushed the club and the player apart.

Newcastle United and manager Rafa Benitez enter the international break aiming for injuries to heal and to conclude the summer’s transfer activity successfully. One piece of that puzzle involves the departure of centre-back Grant Hanley, who is reportedly set to complete a move to Norwich City.

The defender has made only one appearance for the Magpies this season, and it ultimately may have been the performance that decided his fate. That one match was Newcastle’s 3-2 extra-time loss in the Carabao Cup to Nottingham Forest, and it was a forgettable evening for the Scottish international.

Hanley was caught out of position several times by the opposition, and the chemistry with his team-mates was nonexistent.

Fans were skeptical when he arrived last summer from Blackburn Rovers, and it turns out many of those concerns were fair.

The writing was on the wall

After contributing so often at Ewood Park over the past few seasons, Hanley did not have the desired effect at St. James’ Park.

With only ten appearances in the Championship last season and no action in the Premier League during the current term, a change was desperately needed.

Whether the deal will be permanent immediately or a loan remains to be seen, but Hanley will hopefully be able to recapture his form with more minutes on the pitch for the Canaries.

The margin for error was very thin for Grant Hanley at Newcastle United in the current campaign, as he never truly seemed a part of Rafa Benitez’s long-term plans.

One poor performance was all that the Spanish tactician needed to see this season to confirm options for the defender’s future.

Next: Newcastle United: Top five transfer deadline day misses

Fair or unfair, a new chapter is set to begin for Hanley this week.